Method and system for a configurable connnector for ethernet

ABSTRACT

Aspects of a method and apparatus for a configurable connector for Ethernet are provided. In this regard, a configurable Ethernet connector residing in an Ethernet enabled communication device may couple the communication device to one or more twisted pairs and enable communication of Ethernet frames over the twisted pair(s). Conductors of each of the twisted pairs may make contact with adjacent pins of the configurable Ethernet connector. A size and shape of the configurable Ethernet connector may enable housing of more than 48 instances of the configurable Ethernet connector in a single standard size one rack unit face plate of a 19-inch rack. The configurable Ethernet connector may provide mechanical and electrical indications that enable a device coupled to the configurable Ethernet connector to determine configuration information of the configurable Ethernet connector. The information may indicate presence or absence of various components within and/or on the configurable Ethernet connector.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This patent application makes reference to, claims priority to andclaims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.61/365,189 filed on Jul. 16, 2010.

Each of the above identified applications is hereby incorporated hereinby reference in its entirety.

This patent application makes reference to:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/701,381 entitled “Method and Systemfor a Connector with Integrated Shield Detection” filed on Feb. 5, 2010;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/702,173 entitled “Method andApparatus for an Ethernet Connector Comprising an Integrated PHY” filedon Feb. 8, 2010;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/731,908 entitled “Method and Systemfor Ethernet Converter and/or Adapter That Enables Conversion between aPlurality of Different Ethernet Interfaces” filed on Mar. 25, 2010;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/731,933 entitled “Method and Systemfor Determining Characteristics of an Attached Ethernet Connector and/orCable” filed on Mar. 25, 2010;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/752,065 entitled “Method and Systemfor a Connector with Integrated Power over Ethernet Functionality” filedon Mar. 31, 2010;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/785,102 entitled “Method and Systemfor Connector and/or Cable with Configurable Antenna for Ethernet andWireless Applications” filed on May 21, 2010;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/813,296 entitled “Method and Systemfor Patch Panel Port Identification and Verification” filed on Jun. 10,2010;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/828,484 entitled “Method and Systemfor a Connection System Operable to Sink and Source Supply Power” filedon Jul. 1, 2010;

U.S. Patent Application No. 61/365,211 entitled “Method and System forModularized Configurable Connector System for Ethernet Applications”filed on Jul. 16, 2010;

Each of the above stated applications is hereby incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention relate to networking. Morespecifically, certain embodiments of the invention relate to a methodand system for a configurable connector for Ethernet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Communication devices may incorporate a plurality of features, forexample, a mobile phone, a digital camera, an Internet browser, a gamingdevice, a Bluetooth headphone interface and/or a location device. Inthis regard, the communication devices may be operable to communicatevia a plurality of wire-line and/or wireless networks such as local areanetworks, wide area networks, wireless local area networks, cellularnetworks and wireless personal area networks, for example. In thisregard, endpoint devices may communicate via various wireless and/orwire-line switches, routers, hubs, access points and/or base stations.

Many communication devices may communicate via twisted pair cables whichmay comprise pairs of copper wire that are twisted together. Variousnumbers of twists or turns in the wire pairs may enable mitigation ofcommon mode electromagnetic interference. Twisted pair cabling may beshielded and/or unshielded. Shielding may comprise a conductive materialthat may enable grounding of the cable. The shielding may enclose asingle pair of twisted wires and/or may enclose a plurality of pairs.The shielding may comprise foil and/or a braided sheath, for example. Inthis regard, the shielding may mitigate cross talk between twisted pairsand/or between a plurality of cables. Various properties of a cable, forexample, wire gauge, safety information, category, verification oftesting, inner shielding, outer shielding, no shielding, type of use,such as patch cord, and/or country of manufacture may be imprinted onthe cable jacket during manufacture.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, throughcomparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention asset forth in the remainder of the present application with reference tothe drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system and/or method is provided for a configurable connector forEthernet, substantially as illustrated by and/or described in connectionwith at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in theclaims.

These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the presentinvention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, willbe more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary Ethernet enabledcommunication device comprising a configurable Ethernet connectorwherein various components may be present or absent based on animplementation and/or use of the connector, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram illustrating connectors which compriseelectrical characteristics to indicate whether power is to be sourced orsinked, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1C is a block diagram illustrating connectors which compriseelectro-mechanical characteristics to indicate whether power is to besourced or sinked, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2A is a three dimensional representation of exemplary embodimentsof Ethernet connectors, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 2B is a block diagram illustrating exemplary embodiments of aconfigurable connector for Ethernet applications, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating termination of twisted pairs in aconfigurable Ethernet connector, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4A depicts a block diagram illustrating ganging together ofmultiple connectors, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4B is a three dimensional view of an Ethernet connector which maybe ganged together with other connectors, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating two ganged Ethernet connectors, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an Ethernet connectorwith an integrated solid-state switch, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and systemfor a configurable connector for Ethernet applications. In variousembodiments of the invention, a configurable Ethernet connector residingin an Ethernet enabled communication device may couple the communicationdevice to one or more twisted pairs and enable communication of Ethernetframes over the one or more twisted pairs. Conductors of each of thetwisted pairs may make contact with adjacent pins of the configurableEthernet connector. A size and shape of the configurable Ethernetconnector may enable housing of more than 48 instances of theconfigurable Ethernet connector in a single standard size one rack unitface plate of a 19-inch rack. The configurable Ethernet connector mayprovide mechanical and electrical indications that enable a devicecoupled to the configurable Ethernet connector to determineconfiguration information of the configurable Ethernet connector. Theinformation may indicate presence or absence of various componentswithin and/or on the configurable Ethernet connector. The components maycomprise a memory device which stores a configuration and/orcapabilities of the configurable Ethernet connector. The components maycomprise an Ethernet physical layer transceiver (PHY). The componentsmay comprise one or more circuits and/or processors that are operable tomanage supply power that may be sourced and/or sinked via the connector.The components may comprise a solid-state switch that is configurablevia one or more control signals, and a configuration of the solid-stateswitch determines which pins of the Ethernet connector are coupled towhich port(s) of an Ethernet PHY. The one or more control signals aregenerated by the Ethernet PHY.

The configuration information may indicate whether the Ethernet devicesources or sinks power. The configuration information may indicate whichones of the twisted pairs are to be utilized for communicating theEthernet frames. The configuration information may indicate which onesof the twisted pairs are to be utilized for delivery of supply power.The configurable Ethernet connector may comprise one or more firstinterfaces that enable electrically coupling the connector to a cableassembly, one or more second interfaces that enable electricallycoupling the configurable Ethernet connector to a device that theconfigurable Ethernet connector is mounted within or on, and one or morethird interfaces that enable electrically coupling the configurableEthernet connector to a corresponding one or more other connectors thatare mounted on or within the device. The configurable Ethernet connectormay support one or more of 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 1GBASE-T, 10GBASE-T,40GBASE-T, and 100GBASE-T.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary Ethernet enabledcommunication device comprising a configurable Ethernet connectorwherein various components may be present or absent based on animplementation and/or use of the connector, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1A, there is shown anetworking enabled device 102 a and a connection system 134. Thenetworking enabled device 102 a may comprise a host subsystem 104, anetworking subsystem 106, and a configurable Ethernet connector 112.

The networking enabled device 102 a may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, interfaces and/or code that may be operable to performcomputing and/or networking functions. An exemplary networking enableddevice 102 a may comprise a router, a switch, a patch panel, a laptop, aportable phone, a media player, a location device, a television, aset-top-box, a camera and/or a gaming device. The networking enableddevice 102 a may be operable to communicate via the connection system134 based on a plurality of different standardized and/ornon-standardized communication protocols and/or communicationtechnologies, for example, based on various Ethernet protocols.

The host subsystem 104 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,interfaces, and/or code that may be operable to perform computationsand/or executing instructions in the networking enabled device 102 a.For example the host subsystem 104 may comprise one or more statemachines and/or may run an operating system. The host subsystem 104 mayperform computations and/or execute instructions to generate messagesfor transmission via the networking subsystem 106. The host subsystems104 may perform computations and/or execute instructions to processmessages received via the networking subsystem 106. The host subsystem104 may interface with the networking subsystem 106 via a data bus 107which may be, for example, a PCI-X bus. In some embodiments of theinvention, the host subsystem 104 may interface with various componentsin the connector 112 via one or more signals 105. The signals 105 may,for example, comprise one or more discrete control signals and/or one ormore of the signals 105 may be communicated via a data bus such as anI²C bus or SMBus.

The networking subsystem 106 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,interfaces, and/or code that may be operable to handle functionality ofOSI layer 1 and higher OSI layers in the networking enabled device 102a, respectively. The networking subsystem 106 may be operable toimplement switching, routing, and/or network interface card (NIC)functions. The networking subsystem 106 may be operable to implementEthernet protocols, such as those based on the IEEE 802.3 standard, forexample, but is not limited in this regard. The networking subsystem 106may comprise, for example, a media access control (MAC) controller 108.However, in some instances the MAC 108, or portions thereof, may beintegrated into the connector 112. The networking subsystem 106 maycomprise, for example, an Ethernet physical layer device (PHY) 116.However, in some instances the Ethernet PHY 116 may be integrated intothe connector 112.

The connection system 134 may comprise the configurable Ethernetconnector 112, a cable 133, and another connector or termination (notshown) on a link partner. The cable 133 may comprise the connector 120,one or more twisted pairs 126, and one or more connectors or otherterminations (not shown) on the opposite end. The twisted pairs 126 maycomprise, for example, insulated twisted pairs of aluminum or copper.Characteristics of the cable 133, such as number of twisted pairs 126within the cable 133, presence of shielding 132, length of the cable133, and/or wire gauge used for the twisted pairs 126 may determinewhich protocols and/or which data rates the cable 133 may be operable tosupport. The optional shield 132 may comprise, for example, foil and/ora braided sheath around and/or along a length of one or more twistedpairs. For example, one or more individual twisted pairs 126 may beshielded via one or more corresponding shields 132, and/or a pluralityof twisted pairs 126 may be encased in a single shield 132. The optionalshield 132 may be grounded by the networking enabled device 102 a viathe connector 112, for example.

The connectors 112 and 120 may enable coupling the device 102 a to thecable 133. In various embodiments of the invention, the connector 112and the connector 120 may be suited for Ethernet communications and theconnectors 112 and 120 may be small enough to fit into a handheld deviceand/or small enough such that more than 48 of the connectors 112 and/or120 may fit into a standard size one rack unit face plate of a 19-rackrack. Upon mating of the connector 120 to the connector 112, the pins119 ₀-119 _(N) may be in conductive contact with the pins 113 ₀-113_(N), respectively. The term “connector” is used generically herein toencompass both receptacles and plugs. In this regard, whether aconnector is a receptacle that accepts a plug or whether a connector isa plug that inserts into a receptacle may be implementation dependantand unimportant in various embodiments of the invention.

In various embodiments of the invention, the connection system 134 maycomprise various characteristics. Such characteristics may include thelength of the cable 133, the gauge of the wires of the twisted pairs126, the presence or absence of the shielding 132, and the type ofshielding 132. A system designer may select a particularcharacteristics, that is, select a particular configuration of theconnection platform 134, based on, for example, the amount and/or typeof data the device 102 a the device is expected to handle, theenvironment in which the connection platform resides, whether energyefficiency is a priority for the device 102 a, and/or a desired costand/or performance of the system 100. In order to ensure compatibilitybetween various portions of the connection platform 134, the connector112 and/or the connector 120 may be keyed or comprise some othermechanical means for ensuring that only connectors 112 and 120 havingcompatible configurations may be mated.

Characteristics of the connection platform may also include aconfiguration of the connector 112 and/or the connector 120. Theconnectors 112 and 120 may be configurable in a variety of ways.

One exemplary way in which the connectors 112 and/or 120 may beconfigurable is that the number and placement of the pins 113 may bevariable. For example, in some configurations, the connector 112 and/orthe connector 120 may comprise more pins for interfacing to more twistedpairs and in some configurations it may have fewer pins for interfacingwith fewer twisted pairs. The type of pins may refer to, for example,the material the pins are made of, e.g., gold, copper, aluminum, or tin.Additionally or alternatively, the type of pins may refer to thefunction of the pins. For example, in some instances the connector 112and/or the connector 120 may comprise sense pins or other pins thatindicate a configuration of the connector 112 and/or the connector 120.

Another exemplary way in which the connectors 112 and/or 120 may beconfigurable is that various electronic components may be present orabsent within and/or the connectors 112 and/or 120. That is, variousconfigurations of the connector 112 and/or 120 may have variouselectronic components installed, e.g., by soldering them to a PCB, ornot installed. For example, the connectors 112 and/or 120 may eachcomprise a printed circuit board (PCB) having solder lands that acceptvarious components, and different configurations of the connector 112and/or the connector 120 may have different components populated andunpopulated and/or may have different versions of components populated.For example, different versions of components may comprise differentmodels of the components having different capabilities or features.Exemplary components which may or may not be populated within and/or onthe connector 112 and/or 120 may comprise, for example, a media accesscontroller (MAC) or MAC functions 108, a physical layer transceiver(PHY) 116, a non-volatile memory (NVM) 150, a power over Ethernet (PoE)module 118, a module 154 that configures whether power is sourced orsunk by the device 102 a, magnetics 114, one or more light emittingdiodes (LEDs) 152, and a module 158 which may be operable to participatein network management protocols.

The MAC 108 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/orcode that may be operable to perform data encapsulation and/or mediaaccess management, where media access management may comprise operationsthat handle conflicts arising from multiple networking enabled devicessharing the cable 133 and/or from multiple applications, processes, orvirtual machines within the networking enabled device 102 a sharing theconnection system 134. In this regard, each MAC 108 may provide aninterface between the PHY 116 and the host subsystem 104. Each MAC 108may communicate with the PHY 116 via a media independent interface(xxMII). In this regard, “media independent interface (xxMII)” isutilized generically herein and may refer to a variety of interfacesincluding, but not limited to, a media independent interface (MII), agigabit MII (GMII), a reduced MII (RMII), reduced gigabit MII (RGMII),and 10 gigabit MII (XGMII). The xxMII may comprise a carrier sensesignal (CRS) which may be utilized to manage a rate at which data iscommunicated between the PHY 116 and the MAC 108. In various embodimentsof the invention, integrating the MAC 108, or portions thereof operableto implement MAC functions, into the connector 112 may enable theconnector 112 may handle media access. In this manner, multipleconnectors 112 with integrated MAC functions may replace a single legacyconnector. For example, multiple connectors 112 may fit into the solderland pattern and area of the device 102 a previously occupied by alegacy connector. In this way, the number of ports on the networkingdevice 102 a may be increased by replacing the single legacy connectorwith a plurality of connectors 112.

The PHY 116 may comprise, for example, a twisted pair Ethernet PHYcapable of operating at a variable data rate. In this regard, each PHY116 may be operable to adjust a data rate at which it communicates basedon characteristics of the connection system 134 via which itcommunicates. The PHY 116 may, for example, enable multi-rate Ethernetcommunications. For example, the PHY 116 may be operable to communicateat any of 10 Mbps, 100 Mbps, 1Gbps, 2.5Gbps, 4Gbps, 8 Gbps, 10Gbps,40Gbps and 100Gbps. In this regard, the networking subsystem 106 maysupport standard-based data rates and/or non-standard data rates. ThePHY 116 may be operable to achieve various data rates and/or implementvarious Ethernet protocols via configuration of various parameters.Exemplary parameters that may be configured in the PHY 116 to controlthe data rate may comprise the number of twisted pairs 126 over whichthe PHY 116 communicates, which one(s) of the twisted pairs over whichthe PHY 116 communicates, the symbol rate at which the PHY 116 operates,the encoding or modulation scheme utilized by the PHY 116, theinter-frame gap time, various buffer sizes, and/or various thresholds.In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the PHY 116 may beconfigured based on the traffic that it handles. For example, if trafficis heavier in one direction than in the other direction, the PHY 116 maybe configured to operate in an asymmetrical mode where outbound data andinbound data may be communicated at different rates. Similarly, the rateat which the PHY 116 communicates and the number of channels over whichthe PHY 116 communicates may be determined based on characteristics ofthe connection system 134. For example, the PHY 116 may be operable tocommunicate at higher rates and/or via more channels when coupled toshorter and/or larger diameter cabling, and communicate at lower ratesand/or via fewer channels when coupled to longer and/or smaller diametercabling. Additional details regarding a connector comprising anintegrated PHY are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser.No. 12/702,173 referenced above.

The NVM 150 may comprise, for example, a programmable ROM which maystore information about the connector 112. In this regard, the hostsubsystem 104 and/or the networking subsystem 106 may be operable toread the contents of the NVM 150 to determine characteristics of theconnector 112. For example, the contents of the NVM 150 may indicatewhether various components are present in the connector 112 and/or aconfiguration of components present in the connector 112. Additionaldetails regarding a connector comprising an integrated NVM are describedin co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/731,933 referencedabove.

The PoE module 118 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces,and/or code operable to condition, regulate, and/or otherwise manage orcontrol supply power available and/or drawn via the connection system134. Additional details of a connector comprising an integrated PoEmodule are described in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/752,065 referenced above.

The module 154 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces,and/or code operable to configure the connector 112 based on whether thedevice 102 a sources and/or sinks supply power via the connector 112.Additional details of a connector comprising an integrated module suchas the module 154 are described in co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/828,484 referenced above.

The magnetics 114 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces,and/or code that may be operable to couple the signal bus 117 to pins113 of the connector 112. In this regard, the magnetics 114 may providenoise and/or EMI suppression and/or may impedance match the signal bus117 to the connector 120 and the twisted pairs 126. In this regard, themagnetics 114 may comprise one or more transformers and/or one or moreinductive chokes. In some instances, the magnetics 114 may also compriseother components such as resistors, capacitors, and/or inductors forachieving impedance matching, isolation, and/or noise and/or EMIsuppression. In various embodiments of the invention, whether themagnetics 114, or portions thereof, are populated in the connector 112may depend on, for example, the noise that the networking device 102 ais expected to tolerate, the length of the cable 133 over which thenetworking device 102 a will be expected to communicate, and/or whetherthe networking subsystem 102 a will be tied to a fixed potential, e.g.,“grounded,” or whether it will be “floating.” In this manner, bypopulating or not populating the magnetics 114, or portions thereof,different variants of the connector 112 may be manufactured fordifferent use cases. Additional details of a connector comprisingintegrated magnetics are described in one or more of the co-pendingUnited States Patent Applications referenced above.

The LED(s) 150 may be operable to indicate characteristics and/or statusof the connection system 134. For example, the LED(s) 150 may indicatewhether the connector 112 and 120 are properly mated, whether the shield134 is present, whether data is being communicated over the cable 133, alength of the cable 133, whether the opposite end of the cable 133 ismated with a networking enabled device, whether various components arepresent in the connector 112 and/or 120, and/or a configuration of oneor more components present in the connector 112 and/or 120. Additionaldetails of a connector comprising one or more integrated LEDs aredescribed in one or more of the co-pending United States PatentApplications referenced above.

The module 158 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces,and/or code operable to implement one or more network managementprotocols such as simple network management protocol (SNMP), link layerdiscovery protocol (LLDP), and data center bridging exchange (DCBX) maybe integrated on and/or within the connector 112 and/or the connector120. In this regard, packets in accordance with one or more networkmanagement protocols may be generated and/or parsed or deconstructed inthe connector 112 and/or the connector 120. That is, one or more networkmanagement protocols may be terminated in the connector 112 and/or theconnector 120. In this manner, various components of the connector 112and/or other portions of the networking enabled device 102 a may beconfigured and/or otherwise managed based on management informationreceived over a network. Similarly, information recovered from one ormore LLDP packet may be conveyed to the host subsystem 104 and/or thenetworking subsystem 106.

In operation, the networking enabled device 102 a may be operable todetermine characteristics of the connection system 134. Such adetermination may result from an electrical and/or mechanical indicationprovided by the connector 112 and/or 120.

In various embodiments of the invention, the presence of one or morepins, a voltage on one or more pins, and/or mechanical characteristicsof the connector 120 that is mated with the connector 110. The type ofpins may refer to the function of the pins. For example, in someinstances the connector 112 and/or the connector 120 may comprise sensepins or other pins that indicate a configuration of the connector 112and/or the connector 120. Also, a first set of electrical and/ormechanical features on a connector 120 may indicate a firstconfiguration and a second set of electrical or mechanical features on aconnector 120 may indicate a second configuration. In this regard, FIG.1B illustrates a an exemplary embodiment of the invention in whichconnector 120A comprises a conductor 150 which ties the sense pin to V+to indicate a first configuration, and a connector 120B comprises aconductor 152 which ties the sense pin to V- to indicate a secondconfiguration. In another embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 1C,the connector 112 comprises contacts 160A and 160B, which, when shortedtogether, may indicate a first configuration and when not electricallyshorted may indicate a second configuration. Accordingly, the connector120 may comprise a knock-out 162 which may electrically short thecontacts 160A and 160B when present and may leave the contacts 160A and160B open circuited when absent. Accordingly, the connector 120A mayindicate that it configured one way and the connector 120B may indicatethat it is configured another way.

In various embodiments of the invention, the indication may comprisetransient signals generated by components integrated into the connector112 and/or the connector 120. For example, upon mating of theconnectors, the data may be read out from the NVM 150 and communicatedto the device 102 a and/or to the device (not shown) coupled to theother end of the cable 133. As another example, upon mating theconnectors, the module 156 and the PHY 116 may interact to send one ormore messages in accordance with a management protocols. The managementprotocol message(s) may be sent to the device 102 a and/or to the deviceon the other end of the cable 133.

Characteristics of the connection platform 134, may determine a mode ofoperation of the device 102 a. For example, a data rate at which thedevice 102 a communicates over the connection platform 134, whichprotocols are supported by the device 102 a, whether the device 102 asupplies or sinks power via the connection platform 134, and an amountof power supplied or sinked by the device 102 a via the connectionplatform 134 may be determined based on characteristics of theconnection platform 134.

FIG. 2A is a three dimensional representation of exemplary embodimentsof Ethernet connectors, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown the connector 112, theconnector 120, and a portion of the cable 133.

In the exemplary implementation of the connector 112 depicted in FIG.2A, may comprise a modular housing that may be operable to be stacked,ganged and/or installed in a networking device a space-efficient and/oruniform manner. Materials utilized for housing of the Ethernetconnectors 110 and/or 150 may vary. For example, the housing may be madeof non-conducting and/or conducting materials such as plastic and/ormetal. The Ethernet connectors 112 and/or 120 may be shielded orunshielded.

The Ethernet connector 112 may be a receptacle connector that maycomprise a modular housing and the Ethernet connector 120 may be acorresponding Ethernet connector which may be referred to as a plug. TheEthernet connector 112 may comprise a keyed receptacle area 204 and theEthernet connector 120 may comprise a complimentary exterior contourthat may enable mating of the connectors in a proper orientation suchthat the connectors are not misaligned and/or damaged. The invention isnot limited to any specific shape of the keyed receptacle area 204and/or of the corresponding exterior contour of the Ethernet connector120 and any suitable shapes may be utilized.

In various configurations of the connector 112 and/or the connector 120,various components 202 may be integrated within and/or on the connector112 and/or the connector 120. The components 202 may comprise, forexample, integrated circuits and/or passive components. In someinstances, one or more of the components may comprise a printed circuitboard to which one or more other components are soldered.

The Ethernet connector 112 may be configured to be coupled to a circuitboard in a communication device, to be installed in a patch panel or awall mount and/or to be coupled to a cable, for example. The Ethernetconnector 112 and/or the Ethernet connector 120 may comprise dimensionsthat are smaller than a conventional Ethernet connector, such as aneight position eight conductor (8P8C) modular connector, often referredto as an RJ45 connector. In this regard, the Ethernet connector 112and/or the Ethernet connector 150 may be small enough to be installed ina handheld device, such as a mobile phone or smart phone. In anotherexemplary embodiment of the invention, the Ethernet connector 112 and/orthe Ethernet connector 120 may be small enough such that greater than 48connectors or connector modules may be installed in a 1 rack unit (RU)patch panel or switch.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention a plurality of connectors112 may fit in a housing which would fit only one conventional Ethernetconnector. For example, referring to FIG. 2B, there is shown aconventional Ethernet connector 212 and two connectors 212A and 212B.The connector 212A may effectively comprise two instances of connector112 described above, and the connector 212B may effectively comprisefour instances of the connector 112. Furthermore, in an exemplaryembodiment of the invention, the connector 220A and/or the connector220B may have the same solder land pattern as an existing Ethernetconnector. In this manner, the connector 120A and the connector 120B maybe “dropped in” to an existing PCB designed to accept a conventionalEthernet connector. Moreover, in instances that MAC functions and a pairof Ethernet PHYs are integrated in the connector 120A, replacing theconnector 201 with the connector 212A, along with some other minorretrofitting of the communication device, may enable replacing a singleEthernet port with multiple Ethernet ports. In other instances, one ofthe receptacles of the connector 212A may be only for charging and theother may be for Ethernet communications.

Referring back to FIG. 2A, various configurations of the Ethernetconnectors 112 and/or 120 that may be operable to communicate at higherdata rates and/or may provide higher levels of performance for a givenrate, may be referred to as higher performance or higher endconfigurations. Similarly, various configurations of the Ethernetconnectors 112 and/or 120 that may be operable to communicate only atlower data rates and/or may provide lower levels of performance for agiven data rate, may be referred to as lower cost or lower endconfigurations. For example, higher end configurations of the Ethernetconnectors 112 and/or 120, may comprise a greater number of conductorcontacts, may be made with superior materials than lower end versions,may comprise shielding and/or better grounding, and/or may have one ormore components 202, for providing additional functionality, integratedtherein.

Although configurations of the Ethernet connectors 112 and/or 120 mayvary, the various configurations may comprise the same or a similargeneral form factor. When a pair of corresponding Ethernet connectors112 and 120 comprise the same or similar configurations, the Ethernetconnectors may be operable to be coupled and may communicate at a datarate and/or at a level of performance that is determined based on theirsimilar configurations. In instances when the coupled Ethernetconnectors 112 and 120 may comprise different configurations, forexample, when one connector may comprise a higher end configuration andthe corresponding connector may comprise a lower end configuration, theEthernet connectors may be operable to be coupled, however, they mayonly be operable to communicate at a data rate and/or at a level ofperformance that is supported by the lower end configuration. Forexample, the Ethernet connectors 112 and 120 may each have 12 positionsfor pins.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating termination of twisted pairs in aconfigurable Ethernet connector, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown termination of fourtwisted pairs 126 ₁-126 ₄ in a conventional Ethernet connector 220 andin an exemplary configuration of the connectors 120. Each of the twistedpairs 126 ₁-126 ₄ may comprise a conductor x and a conductor y. In theconnector 220, the x and y conductors of twisted pair 126 ₂ a terminatedin non-adjacent pins 219 ₂ and 219 ₅ which, when the connectors 212 and220 are mated, make contact with the pins 213 ₂ and 213 ₅, respectively.Conversely, the x and y conductors of each of the twisted pairs 126₁-126 ₄ are terminated in adjacent pins of the connector 120. Twistedpair 126 ₁ is terminated in adjacent pins 119 ₀ and 119 ₁ which, whenconnectors 112 and 120 are mated, make contact with pins 113 ₀ and 113₁, respectively. Twisted pair 126 ₂ is terminated in adjacent pins 119 ₂and 119 ₃, which, when connectors 112 and 120 are mated, make contactwith pins 113 ₂ and 113 ₃, respectively. Twisted pair 126 ₃ isterminated in adjacent pins 119 ₄ and 119 ₅, which, when connectors 112and 120 are mated, make contact with pins 113 ₄ and 113 ₅, respectively.Twisted pair 126 ₄ is terminated in adjacent pins 119 ₆ and 119 ₇,which, when connectors 112 and 120 are mated, make contact with pins 113₆ and 113 ₇, respectively.

FIG. 4A depicts a block diagram illustrating ganging together ofmultiple connectors, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown a networking device 102 b comprisinga plurality, X, of connectors 112, where X is an integer greater than 1.The networking device 102 b may be substantially similar to thenetworking device 102 a described above. Each of the connectors 112₁-112 _(x), may comprise a first interface 402 for coupling, via aprinted circuit board, with the other subsystems of the networkingdevice 102 b, interfaces 404L and 404R for coupling with otherconnectors 112, and an interface 406 for coupling with a correspondingconnector 120. In this regard, the connectors 112 may be modular in thatconnectors 112 may be added or removed with little or no changes and/orreconfiguration of the networking subsystem 106 and/or host subsystem104. For example, the connectors 112 may be “plug and play” uponaddition of a connector 112, the connector may be enumerated with aunique address and controlled by the host subsystem 104 via the signals105 and/or one of the connectors 112 may assume the role of master andmay control the remaining connectors which may assume the role ofslaves.

Each of the interfaces 402, 404, and 406 of a connector 112 may compriseone or more contacts which may comprise, for example, pins and/or solderbumps. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the connector 112 ₁may be coupled to a data bus 117, and maybe one or more voltage railsand/or control signals, via the interface 402 of the connector 112 ₁.Also, the connector 112 ₁ may be coupled to connector 112 ₂ via theinterface 404L of the connector 112 ₁ and the interface 404R of theconnector 112 ₂. A connector 112 ₃, if present, may be similarly coupledto the connector 112 ₂, a connector 112 ₄ to the connector 112 ₃, and soforth, up to connector 112 _(X). In this manner, the connectors 112₁-112 _(x), may be coupled, or “ganged,” together in a daisy-chainfashion.

One advantage of coupling connectors together in this way is thatprinted circuit board real-estate beneath or near the connectors may notbe needed for traces that run to the connectors 112 and may thus be usedfor routing other traces. In combination with the integration ofcomponents into the connector(s) 112, such a configurable modularconnector system may free up a large amount of printed circuit boardreal-estate near where the connectors 112 are mounted.

In various embodiments of the invention, various ones of the connectors112 ₁-112 _(x) may be of various configurations. For example, some maybe high performance configurations and some may be low costconfigurations. As another example, some may have integrated PoE and/orpower management components and some may not. Similarly, some may behave integrated components for participating in management protocols andsome may not.

FIG. 4B is a three dimensional view of an Ethernet connector which maybe ganged together with other connectors, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. The interface 402L of the connector 112 isshown in FIG. 4B. The size, shape, and number of contacts or pins of theinterface 402L is not limited to that depicted in the figure.

FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating two ganged Ethernet connectors, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 4C, itis shown how a first connector 112 a may be coupled to a secondconnector via the interfaces 402R of the connector 112 a and theinterface 402L of the connector 112 b. Although, FIG. 4C shows theconnectors 112 a and 112 b with some distance between them in order toillustrate the contact of the interfaces, in various embodiments of theinvention, the wall of connector 112 a may sit flush with the wall ofconnector 112 b.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of an Ethernet connectorwith an integrated solid-state switch, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention. Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a front view of anexemplary Ethernet connector 112 comprising four pairs of pins 504 a-504d and a solid-state switch 502 integrated within and/or on the Ethernetconnector 112. Although, four pairs of pins 504 are shown, any number ofpins may be present for interfacing to any number of twisted-pairs.

The solid-state switch 502 may comprise, for example, a discreteintegrated circuit or may be integrated on a common substrate with othercomponents, such as the Ethernet PHY 116. The Ethernet PHY 116 may be asdescribed above and may comprise a plurality of ports 512. Although thePHY 116 is shown as comprising two ports, the Ethernet PHY may compriseany number of ports.

In operation, the PHY 116 may configure the switch 502 to configurewhich pin-pair 502 is coupled to which port 512. For example, in a firstconfiguration of the switch 502, port 512 a may be coupled to pin-pair504 a and port 512 b may be coupled to port 512 b, in a secondconfiguration of the switch 502, port 512 a may be coupled to pin-pair504 c and port 512 b may be coupled to port 512 d, and in a thirdconfiguration of the switch 502, port 512 a may be coupled to pin-pair504 a and port 512 b may be coupled to port 512 d. The PHY 116 maydetermine which configuration to select based on, for example,characteristics of the cable coupled to the connector 112 and/orcharacteristics of a link partner coupled to the connector 112 via acable. For simplex communications, the Ethernet PHY 116 may configurethe switch 502 to match the configuration of a link partner. Toillustrate, port 512 a may be an ingress port and port 512 c may be anegress port. Accordingly, the switch 502 may be configured such thatport 512 a is coupled to a twisted pair on which a link partnertransmits and port 512 b is coupled to a twisted pair on which the linkpartner receives.

Various aspects of a method and system for a configurable connector forEthernet application may comprise an Ethernet connector 112 residing inan Ethernet enabled communication device 102 a. The connector 112 maycouple the communication device 102 a to one or more twisted pairs 126and enable communication of Ethernet frames over the one or more twistedpairs 126. Conductors x and y of each of the twisted pairs 126 may makecontact with adjacent pins 113 of the configurable Ethernet connector112. A size and shape of the configurable Ethernet connector 112 mayenable housing more than 48 instances of the configurable Ethernetconnector 112 in a single standard size one rack unit face plate of a19-inch rack. The configurable Ethernet connector 112 may providemechanical and electrical indications that enable the device 102 aand/or a remote device coupled to the configurable Ethernet connector112 to determine configuration information of the configurable Ethernetconnector 112. The information may indicate presence or absence ofvarious components within and/or on the configurable Ethernet connector112. The components may comprise a memory device 150 which stores aconfiguration and/or capabilities of the configurable Ethernet connector112. The components may comprise an Ethernet physical layer transceiver(PHY) 116. The components may comprise one or more circuits and/orprocessors 118 and/or 154 that are operable to manage supply power thatmay be sourced and/or sinked via the connector. The components maycomprise a solid-state 502 switch that is configurable via one or morecontrol signals 510, and a configuration of the solid-state switch 502may determine which pins 113 of the Ethernet connector 112 are coupledto which pots) 512 of an Ethernet PHY 116. The one or more controlsignals 510 are generated by the Ethernet PHY 116.

The configuration information may indicate whether the Ethernet device102 a sources or sinks power. The configuration information may indicatewhich ones of the twisted pairs 126 are to be utilized for communicatingthe Ethernet frames. The configuration information may indicate whichones of the twisted pairs 126 are to be utilized for deliver of supplypower. The configurable Ethernet connector 112 may comprise one or morefirst interfaces 406 that enable electrically coupling the connector toa cable assembly 133, one or more second interfaces 402 that enableelectrically coupling the connector to a device that the connector ismounted within or on, and one or more third interfaces 404 that enableelectrically coupling the configurable Ethernet connector 112 to acorresponding one or more other configurable Ethernet connectors 112that are mounted on or within the device 102 a. The configurableEthernet connector 112 may support one or more of 10BASE-T, 100BASE-T,1GBASE-T, 10GBASE-T, 40GBASE-T, and 100GBASE-T.

Other embodiments of the invention may provide a non-transitory computerreadable medium and/or storage medium, and/or a non-transitory machinereadable medium and/or storage medium, having stored thereon, a machinecode and/or a computer program having at least one code sectionexecutable by a machine and/or a computer, thereby causing the machineand/or computer to perform the steps as described herein for aconfigurable connector for Ethernet.

Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software. The presentinvention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least onecomputer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elementsare spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind ofcomputer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methodsdescribed herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware andsoftware may be a general-purpose computer system with a computerprogram that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computersystem such that it carries out the methods described herein.

The present invention may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of aset of instructions intended to cause a system having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular function either directlyor after either or both of the following: a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different materialform.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method for networking, the method comprising: in an Ethernetenabled communication device comprising a configurable Ethernetconnector, communicating Ethernet frames via one or more twisted pairscommunicatively coupled to said configurable Ethernet connector,wherein: conductors of each of said one or more twisted pairs makecontact with adjacent pins of said configurable Ethernet connector; asize and shape of said configurable Ethernet connector enables housingof more than 48 instances of said configurable Ethernet connector in asingle standard size one rack unit face plate of a 19-inch rack; andsaid configurable Ethernet connector provides mechanical and electricalindications that enable a device coupled to said configurable Ethernetconnector to determine configuration information of said configurableEthernet connector.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein saidconfiguration information indicates presence or absence of variouscomponents within and/or on said configurable Ethernet connector.
 3. Themethod according to claim 2, wherein said components comprise a memorydevice which stores a configuration and/or capabilities of saidconfigurable Ethernet connector.
 4. The method according to claim 2,wherein said components comprise an Ethernet physical layer transceiver(PHY).
 5. The method according to claim 2, wherein said componentscomprise one or more circuits and/or processors that are operable tomanage supply power sourced and/or sinked via said configurable Ethernetconnector.
 6. The method according to claim 2, wherein: said componentscomprise a solid-state switch that is configurable via one or morecontrol signals; and a configuration of said solid-state switchdetermines which pins of said Ethernet connector are coupled to whichports of an Ethernet PHY.
 7. The method according to claim 6, whereinsaid one or more control signals are generated by said Ethernet PHY. 8.The method according to claim 1, wherein said configuration informationindicates whether said Ethernet device sources or sinks power.
 9. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein said configuration informationindicates which ones of said twisted pairs are to be utilized forcommunicating said Ethernet frames.
 10. The method according to claim 1,wherein said configuration information indicates which ones of saidtwisted pairs are to be utilized for deliver of supply power.
 11. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein said configurable Ethernetconnector comprises: one or more first interfaces that enableelectrically coupling said configurable Ethernet connector to a cableassembly; one or more second interfaces that enable electricallycoupling said connector to a device that said configurable Ethernetconnector is mounted within or on; and one or more third interfaces thatenable electrically coupling said connector to a corresponding one ormore other configurable Ethernet connectors that are mounted on orwithin said device.
 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein saidconfigurable Ethernet connector supports one or more of 10BASE-T,100BASE-T, 1GBASE-T, 10GBASE-T, 40GBASE-T, and 100GBASE-T.
 13. A systemfor networking, the system comprising: a configurable Ethernet connectorresiding in a Ethernet enabled communication device, wherein: saidcommunication device is operable to communicate Ethernet frames via oneor more twisted pairs communicatively coupled to said configurableEthernet connector; conductors of each of said one or more twisted pairsmake contact with adjacent pins of said configurable Ethernet connector;a size and shape of said configurable Ethernet connector enables housingof more than 48 instances of said configurable Ethernet connector in astandard-size one-rack-unit face-plate of a 19-inch rack; and saidconfigurable Ethernet connector provides mechanical and electricalindications that enable a device coupled to said configurable Ethernetconnector to determine configuration information of said configurableEthernet connector.
 14. The system according to claim 13, wherein saidconfiguration information indicates presence or absence of variouscomponents within and/or on said configurable Ethernet connector. 15.The system according to claim 14, wherein said components comprise amemory device which stores a configuration and/or capabilities of saidconfigurable Ethernet connector.
 16. The system according to claim 14,wherein said components comprise an Ethernet physical layer transceiver(PHY).
 17. The system according to claim 14, wherein said componentscomprise one or more circuits and/or processors that are operable tomanage supply power sourced and/or sinked via said configurable Ethernetconnector.
 18. The system according to claim 14, wherein: saidcomponents comprise a solid-state switch that is configurable via one ormore control signals; and a configuration of said solid-state switchdetermines which pins of said Ethernet connector are coupled to whichterminals of an Ethernet PHY.
 19. The system according to claim 18,wherein said one or more control signals are generated by said EthernetPHY.
 20. The system according to claim 13, wherein said configurationinformation indicates whether said Ethernet device sources or sinkspower.
 21. The system according to claim 13, wherein said configurationinformation indicates which ones of said twisted pairs are to beutilized for communicating said Ethernet frames.
 22. The systemaccording to claim 13, wherein said configuration information indicateswhich ones of said twisted pairs are to be utilized for deliver ofsupply power.
 23. The system according to claim 13, wherein saidconfigurable Ethernet connector comprises: one or more first interfacesthat enable electrically coupling said configurable Ethernet connectorto a cable assembly; one or more second interfaces that enableelectrically coupling said connector to a device that said configurableEthernet connector is mounted within or on; and one or more thirdinterfaces that enable electrically coupling said connector to acorresponding one or more other configurable Ethernet connectors thatare mounted on or within said device.
 24. The system according to claim13, wherein said configurable Ethernet connector supports one or more of10BASE-T, 100BASE-T, 1GBASE-T, 10GBASE-T, 40GBASE-T, and 100GBASE-T.